Has Iginla played his last game in Calgary?

Did the stirring ovation given to him following his game-winner late Sunday serve as his last hurrah?

Fans should hope so.

Destined to be a painful separation no matter how it all ends, the Flames now have a golden opportunity to rip the band-aid off as quickly as possible and trade Iginla pronto.

Make no mistake, it’s important to get this trade right, as it will help shape the future of the franchise.

But getting it right also means doing it efficiently, as every day they wait potential suitors can drop out of the race just as the Pittsburgh Pittsburgh may have done Sunday when they acquired Brenden Morrow.

For years, the Flames have been paralyzed by fear trading Iginla would spark a massive public relations backlash — a revolt by fans who have revered Iggy for the bulk of his 17 years in Calgary. After all, no player in franchise history has been more popular or lucrative — for the club.